Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA4440
2004-08-06 16:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TUAF QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPACE COOPERATION

Tags:  MASS MARR PINR TSPA FR IS KS TU UK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004440 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PINR TSPA FR IS KS TU UK
SUBJECT: TUAF QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPACE COOPERATION


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004440

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PINR TSPA FR IS KS TU UK
SUBJECT: TUAF QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPACE COOPERATION



1. (U) This cable contains sensitive business information.
Please protect accordingly.


2. (U) This is an action request -- see para 4.


3. (SBU) On July 27, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) conveyed
to DAO Ankara a questionnaire from Turkish Air Force (TUAF)
Command regarding space cooperation. (The text of the TUAF
introduction and questions are at paras 5 and 6.) A Lockheed
Martin source informed us that these same questions were
being sent to five embassies in addition to our own: Germany,
Israel, UK, Korea and France. Responses are requested by
September 6 and, according to our LM source, will be used to
choose a partner with whom TUAF will work to acquire two
remote sensing and one military communications satellites.
This source suspects that the Koreans have a leg up, if not a
lock, on the competition due to the recent intensification of
mil-mil contacts between Turkey and the ROK. Nonetheless,
the Ankara LM office is interested in prompt responses from
the USG to prevent their elimination from the expected
competition.


4. (U) Action request: We request Washington provide
responses to the questions in para 6 by the Sept 6 deadline.


5. (SBU) Begin text of TUAF English Translation of cover
letter

TUAF QUESTIONNAIRE ABOUT HER COOPERATION APPROACH IN
DEVELOPING HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING SATELLITE & RELATED GROUND
SYSTEM

PREFERENCE

Turkish Air Force (TUAF) exploring the possibility of
facilitating a cooperation program on high resolution imaging
satellites which will be put into action with a "Project
Agreement (PA)" formed under a government-to-government
agreement, such as an MOU.

It is aimed that the possible cooperation will be apprehended
as a co-development program, not as a procurement program and
the Parties will have cooperative minds as partners and share
the risks such as export license, design change, path
finding, etc., which are inherent in space development
program and come from state-of-the-art technology development.

The cooperation program is assumed to include the
establishment of a ground station in Ankara, Turkey, training

the TUAF personnel in ground station operations and image
processing and developing a high resolution imaging
satellite. The satellite development process will comprise
of:

-- Facilitating operational sub-meter imaging satellite
capability on orbit for Turkey,

-- Developing Turkish defense industry's ability for
satellite design, manufacture, integration and test,

-- Providing on job training to Turkish engineers from design
stage to integration & test stage,

-- Participation of Turkish Defense Industries in satellite
development process, continuous technology and know-how
transfer throughout the program by facilitating an Assembly,
Integration and Test (AI&T) infrastructure in Turkey.

In this context, the following questions are prepared to get
your impressions about the international cooperation concept
of TUAF in the field of high resolution imaging satellite and
to determine the possible cooperation opportunities in this
area. Thus, it will be appreciated if you answer and submit
to TUAF the below questions by 06 September 2004.

Point of contact for the issue is Turkish Air Force,
Aerospace Branch E-mail:
ygoker@hvkk.tsk.mil.tr, Fax: 312 417 4990, Phone: 312 414

3749.

End text of cover letter.


6. (SBU) Begin text of questions:

Q1. What is your opinion about putting a cooperation program
on high resolution imaging satellites into action with a
"Project Agreement (PA)" that will be formed under a
government-to-government agreement, such as an MOU?

Q2. TUAF aims to improve Turkish industry with satellite
design, manufacturing, assembly, integration and test
capabilities. In this context, what are your suggestions and
limitations about technology and know-how transfer to Turkey
in the field of high resolution imaging satellites?

Q3. For an adept program management and to attain a
sustainable satellite development capability in Turkey, can
you offer on job trainings for Turkish engineers within a
satellite development program?

Q4. Do you have any suggestions for localization of
sub-system level items? Are there any items that you think
Turkish industry can contribute to the satellite development
process within a possible high resolution imaging satellite
cooperation plan?

Q5. What is your opinion about joint usage of a co-developed
high resolution imaging satellite? By the Joint Usage
Concept it is intended to share the same satellite. In
addition what is your idea about the comparison with the
joint usage of two dedicated satellites with equivalent
technical specifications?

Q6. Under a possible cooperation program in the field of
high-resolution satellites, do you think that the ground
stations in both countries can serve as back up stations in
addition to dedicated operations?

Q7. In the scope of satellite co-development project can you
offer real time image downlink from you own satellites
currently in orbit at the TUAF ground station, including the
tasking authority? In such a case what can be the dedicated
capacity for TUAF?

End text of questions.

DEUTSCH